Start by preparing your ingredients. In a medium-sized bowl, gently stir together 2 cups cherry tomatoes and ⅓ cup fresh basil. The vibrant colors will catch your eye, and the aroma of the basil will fill your kitchen.
Add a couple of healthy dashes of ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, along with a pinch of Kosher salt and black pepper. Gently stir the mixture again, allowing the flavors to blend beautifully.
Next, preheat your grill pan (or cast-iron skillet) over medium-high heat. If you’re using an outdoor grill, fire it up! The goal is to get it nice and hot.
While the grill is heating up, take your 1 baguette and slice it into ½-inch slices. This thickness is perfect for achieving a golden crunch.
Now, brush the cut side of the baguette with the halved 1 large clove garlic and drizzle on some of the olive oil (only on one side). This step adds a wonderful garlic flavor.
Once your grill pan is hot, place the bread slices on it, cut side down. Grill for about 3 to 4 minutes until toasted. You should see beautiful grill marks and smell that toasty aroma.
After toasting one side, flip the bread and grill the other side for another 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown. Keep an eye on it to avoid burning!
Once toasted, transfer the bread to a platter, oil side up. This will help hold onto the delicious toppings.
Now comes the fun part! Mound the tomato-basil mixture on top of each slice of toasted bread. Don’t be shy; pile it high for maximum flavor!
Serve Summer Bruschetta immediately to enjoy at its freshest. The combination of the warm, toasted bread and the cool, fresh topping is simply irresistible!
